Saeed Rad, Cinema and Television Star, Passes Away at 79

Iranian media reported that Saeed Rad, a cinema and television actor, passed away at the age of 79 after enduring a period of illness. The IRNA news agency wrote on Monday, July 23, that Saeed Rad suffered an injury at his home last September following a fall, and after being hospitalized and undergoing surgery, he was able to walk with the help of a walker after a month. The actor's daughter stated that due to the prosthesis not being properly positioned in his back, subsequent problems arose, leading to another surgery after returning to the hospital, followed by eight weeks of continuous physiotherapy. Despite this, he lost the ability to walk. According to IRNA, other issues such as lung and bladder infections added to Saeed Rad's walking difficulties, and after months of hospitalization, he ultimately passed away on Monday. Ahmad Saeed Haqparast Rad, known by his stage name Saeed Rad, was born on October 26, 1944, in Tehran. Although he studied agriculture after finishing high school, he began his cinematic activities before the 1979 revolution and shone in the acting profession. He won two awards from the Sepas Film Festival for his roles in 'The Morning of the Fourth Day' and 'Tengna.' In 1984, after acting in the film 'Eagles,' he was banned from appearing on screen and left the country for a while. After 15 years, he returned to Iran and cinema, but since then, he only acted in a few films. His last films included 'Duel,' 'The Receiver,' 'Love and Madness,' 'End of Service,' and 'Che,' where he portrayed a military officer and received a diploma of honor for Best Actor in a Leading Role for 'The Receiver.' In a 2012 interview with Radio Farda, Saeed Rad described Iraj Ghaderi as part of the body of Iranian cinema. His last appearances in front of the camera were in the series 'Heritage of the Father' and 'Gildokht.' A day before the news of Saeed Rad's death was published, film critic Hooshang Golmakani reported on his illness and life in a nursing home. He wrote in a post on his Instagram account that Saeed Rad was athletic and very proud, always preferring to choose 'action' roles for himself, and now, after a period of illness, he had consented for his daughter to announce this illness. The film critic noted that he doubted Saeed Rad was aware of it; otherwise, he would not agree to live in a 'nursing home.' Mr. Golmakani added: 'The Saeed Rad I saw that day on the bed bore no resemblance to what we even remember from his recent years. I do not want to describe his condition that day, even if I cannot forget it.' Saeed Rad married the famous singer and actress Nooshafarin (born Fatemeh Abdi Golnakeshi) in 1975. This marriage did not produce any children, and eventually, the two separated in 1995. This well-known cinema actor has two children from his second marriage.